There has been a rapid growth in the number of programmes and activities addressing climate change in relation to Africa. Many of these programmes aim to improve the understanding of the nature of climate variability and the potential for human systems to adapt to climatic changes that might result from global warming. The Earth System Science Partnership, comprising the major international global change research programmes, DIVERSITAS, International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP), International Geosphere–Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), sponsors the global change SysTem for Analysis, Research and Training (START). START focuses on regional implementation of global change research and related capacity-building. START views capacity-building as research-driven, with the objective of entraining researchers in collaborative regional research networks.

START activities in Africa are designed to:

• Engage the African research community in global change research of the Earth System Science Partners;

• Promote collaboration within the African research community to provide sound, scientific assessments of impacts of global changes, including climate variability and change, and coping strategies relevant to critical socio-economic sectors;

• Provide targeted capacity-building opportunities for African researchers, largely within the region;

• Enhance regional research capability at individual and institutional levels, and

• Provide input to policy/decision-making communities, at various levels, on critical sectors.